Device for storing and dispensing a free-flowing substance

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device, especially for storing and dispensing dental materials. The inventive device comprises a container comprising a first and a second film which form at least one first chamber for receiving a first substance and a recess that is separated from the chamber and serves for removing the first substance. The separation area between the recess and the first chamber is provided with a passage area that can be opened in a selective manner. The first chamber contains at least one additional container.

[0001] The invention relates to a device, in particular for storing anddispensing dental materials, comprising a container with a first foiland a second foil which form at least one first chamber for receiving afirst substance. The device also comprises a pouch which is separatefrom the chamber and which is used for removing the first substance, theseparation between the pouch and the first chamber having a passage areathat can be selectively opened, and the first chamber containing atleast one further receptacle.

[0002] In the dental field in particular, it is often necessary toperform a large number of manual operations in succession and in acoordinated manner.

[0003] To fill a cavity of a tooth, for example with a plastic filling,a primer usually has to be applied or blown onto the hard dentalsubstance first, followed by a bonding agent, then exposed to light, ifappropriate, before the actual filling can be applied.

[0004] While the adhesive substances of primer and bonding agent areusually packaged in bottles in lilquid form, the filling material ispresent as a highly viscous material in screw-cap tubes or is pressedout from what are known as computes.

[0005] The dentist applying a filling thus first has to take the primerand bonding agent in the form of a liquid from one package and thenremove the filling material in the form of a highly viscous compoundfrom a different package.

[0006] The time spent in doing this is not inconsiderable. In addition,the primer and bonding agent from one manufacturer are often not adaptedto the chemical composition of the filling material from anothermanufacturer, which can result in reduced adhesion values on the tooth.Nor can operating errors be ruled out when opening, dispensing and usingthe substances from the different packages in sequence.

[0007] Small quantities of liquid can be stored and applied, forexample, using receptacles in the form of blister packs. For example,two recesses separated from one another are provided in the thermoformedpart of the package closed off by a removable foil. The first recess cancontain a small amount of liquid, and a brush can be placed in the otherrecess.

[0008] WO-96/03326, for example, describes a disposable receptacle whichhas cavities for storing a medicament and an applicator. Both cavitiesare protected from contamination by means of a peelable cover foil. Inone embodiment, by pressing on the cavity containing the medicament,said medicament is transferred into the cavity containing the applicatorin order to wet the applicator. It is explained that this is possibleonly when the cover foil in the transition area between the two cavitiesis not bonded to the receptacle. Such a package is not suitable forstoring corrosive liquids.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,834 discloses a treatment k-it which has twocavities in a main body, the cavities containing a care substance on theone hand and a swab on the other. The main body containing the caresubstance and the swab is protected from contamination by means of asealing foil.

[0010] EP 0 895 943 A discloses a device for storing and dispensing afree-flowing substance, with a container made up of two foils which areconnected to one another to form a chamber for receiving the substanceand a pouch which is separate from the chamber and used for removing thesubstance, the separation between the chamber and the pouch having apassage area that can be selectively opened.

[0011] Conventionally used peelable sealing foils are not permanentlyresistant to aggressive media such as strong acids and dipolar aproticsolvents such as acetone. Reaction of these media with the foilconstituents can result in delamination of individual foil layers. Thestorage stability of the filled material and its safe application arethus no longer guaranteed.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to makeavailable a device which avoids these disadvantages.

[0013] A further object can be regarded as that of making available adevice with which it is possible to store different substance classesinside one package and to dispense them, in particular as a mixture.

[0014] There is in particular a need for a device with which it ispossible to store individual components of an adhesively acting mixtureseparately and safely in one package and be able to mix them therein.

[0015] This object is achieved by a device and by a method for using thedevice, as described in the claims.

[0016] The words “comprise” or “include” within the meaning of theinvention precede a nonexhaustive list of features. The word “one” is tobe interpreted as an indefinite quantity with the meaning of “at leastone”.

[0017] The invention has the following advantages:

[0018] The presence of a separate receptacle for receiving a substanceensures that in the storage state the substance does not come directlyinto contact either with the passage area that can be selectively openedor with the foils forming the chamber.

[0019] In this way, damage to the device, in particular, the foilsforming the device, is made difficult. This permits a longer storagelife of the device containing the substance. In this connection, it hasproven advantageous to produce the receptacle using materials whichgreatly impair or prevent the diffusion of volatile substances.

[0020] Depending on the material for the receptacle, aggressivesubstances can in this way also be stored and handled without problems,without having to forego the advantageous properties of the foilsnormally used to form the container.

[0021] The term aggressive substances includes both corrosive substances(for example acid and basic substances) and tacky substances, and alsosolvents with the property of attacking plastics.

[0022] By means of the device according to the invention, it is alsopossible, in particular, to safely store substances which are sensitiveto radiation. After the foil forming the container, external radiationnow has to pass an additional barrier before it can impinge on thesubstance. Radiation here is to be understood as any form of, naturallyoccurring or artificially generated radiation. This includes, on the onehand, electromagnetic radiation particularly in the range of 380 to 520nm and, on the other hand, corpuscular radiation, in particular betaradiation.

[0023] The device according to the invention also permits unproblematicopening of the chamber by releasing the desired breaking point. Thesubstance which can be present in the chamber can then be transferredinto the pouch for removal. At the same time, the device according tothe invention can act as a dosing unit for dispensing and applyingamounts of substance predetermined by the volume of the chamber.

[0024] The device is thus distinguished, in particular, by the factthat, by exerting pressure, a first substance located in a receptaclecan be transferred at least partially into a chamber and can betransferred from there into a kind of receiving dish via a passage areathat can be selectively opened. Depending on the embodiment, the firstsubstance can be mixed with a second substance before being dispensed orbefore being transferred into the receiving dish.

[0025] The receptacle located in the chamber is preferably arranged orplaced in the chamber loosely, in particular, not securely bonded.

[0026] If appropriate, the device has a plurality of chambers suitablefor receiving substances, which chambers can be connected to one anothervia passage areas that can be selectively opened.

[0027] If appropriate, the device also has a peelable outer layer area.This makes it easy to at least partially remove part of the foil. Inthis way, at least one chamber containing one or more substances whichmay be present in separate containers is made visible.

[0028] The use of differently configured foils for the outer layer area,on the one hand, and for the foils forming the chamber, on the otherhand, permits safe storage of the substances before the device is put touse.

[0029] In addition, the substances which are to be mixed are betterprotected in the storage state from external influences such as incidentlight or undesired pressure.

[0030] If one of the foils forming the chamber is transparent, it ispossible, after removing the peelable outer layer area, to visuallymonitor the mixing procedure and/or the emptying of the chamber. In thisway, it is possible to achieve a more homogeneous mixing result and morecomplete emptying of the chamber into the pouch.

[0031] Depending on the substance to be applied, the inner layer of thefoil coming into contact with the substance to be applied can be adaptedto the properties of the substance. This allows the device to be used tostore a large number of substances which differ in terms of theirreactivity, without having to substantially modify the method forproducing the device.

[0032] This embodiment thus allows, for example, dental material to bestored and dispensed safely and in a manner protected fromcontamination.

[0033] If appropriate, a further chamber which cannot be connected tothe first chamber or, if appropriate, second chamber via a passage areathat can be selectively opened is provided on a second portion. Thisfurther chamber is preferably closed off with a separately peelablecover foil which can, if appropriate, be closed again. This permits thestorage of at least one further substance which is normally used in theprocessing sequence after application of the first substance.

[0034] The second portion of the device according to this embodiment canbe connected to the first portion in any way, the aim being to ensurethat when the substance is dispensed from the first chamber of the firstportion, it cannot pass into the chamber of the second portion.Consequently, the chambers of the first portion cannot be connected tothe chamber or chambers of the second portion via an openable passagearea. For easier handling of the device, the second portion ispreferably designed so that it can be detached from the first portion. Adesign of the connection piece which permits detachment by manualtearing is particularly expedient. This can be obtained, for example, byperforating the connection piece. However, any other design of theconnection piece between the two portions is also conceivable andpossible, for example by adhesive bonding with a further foil.

[0035] Since the substance located in the further chamber of theoptionally present second portion is usually adapted to the nature ofthe substance in the other chamber, this reduces the risk of usingsubstances which are not compatible with the first substance.

[0036] The device according to the invention is accordinglycharacterized in that substances or components, which cause storageproblems, of a mixture which is to be produced are made ready within onepackage, in particular a disposable package, for dispensing and mixing.In particular, for example, three components can be stored separately inthe device: in the first portion of the device, two components which areneeded to prepare an adhesive mixture and, in the second portion, thethird component in the form of a filling material which is adapted interms of its chemical composition to the adhesive mixture.

[0037] Depending on the embodiment, the device is thus suitable not onlyfor separate storage of several components, but also for mixing some ofthe components and for coordinated dispensing of the mixed componentsand of a further component which is adapted thereto and which in termsof its rheological properties is usually different than the two othercomponents. It is further ensured that all the substances stored in thedevice are filled on the same date, so that incompatibilities of thesubstances due to different expiry times can be excluded.

[0038] Thus, the device according to this embodiment is on the wholeeasy to handle since the first substance, which is located in the firstchamber, can first be transferred into the pouch for removal, withoutcomplications and awkward opening of the device. After application ofthe substance from the pouch, a second substance is stored in the samedevice and made ready for application. The second substance, whichusually differs in consistency from the first substance, is stored in achamber which is to be opened in a different way than the first chamber.

[0039] The substance located in the first chamber can be dispensed byexerting pressure on the device, without removing a cover layer, whereasa cover sheet usually has to be torn off to remove the second substancefrom the chamber which is present in the second portion.

[0040] The device in this embodiment is thus distinguished by the factthat it has two portions with at least one chamber each for receiving ineach case one substance, which substances are for their part to beremoved from the device in different ways, and the individual chambersare opened in different ways.

[0041] The second portion of the device according to this embodimentusually likewise comprises two foils, usually a first foil in the formof a cover foil and a second foil in the form of a thermoformed foil.The first and second foils form a chamber for receiving a substance. Thechamber can be opened in particular by means of the cover foil beingpulled off. For this purpose, the first foil is preferably sealed ontothe second foil in a peelable manner.

[0042] The device thus comprises two portions with chambers, which areeach formed by two foils, the foils being connected or sealed to oneanother in different ways, depending on the embodiment.

[0043] The first and second foils can be multilayer foils. They have anoptionally peelable outer layer area and an inner layer area.

[0044] The foils used are preferably those which have a sufficientdiffusion density.

[0045] Depending on the nature of the substance to be stored, the foilsshould also be resistant to aggressive substances, for example,corrosive substances and/or substances which have solvent properties.

[0046] The foil components can be chosen from plastic foils, metal foilsand ceramic foils.

[0047] Examples of suitable plastic foils are: PE, PP, PTFE, PET, PA,PBT, PVC, EVA, PVF (polyvinyl fluoride). Examples of metal foils are:Al, Sn, Au, Ag, Fe.

[0048] Ceramic foils are to be understood as foils which have, forexample, an Siox-containing layer.

[0049] The foil can, in principle, have any desired structure and isadapted to the nature of the substances which are to be stored.

[0050] A foil structure has proven expedient which comprises insequence, from outside to inside, PET, Al, PET, PE or PP, Al, PET, PE,if appropriate also without the PET foil as middle foil.

[0051] Adhesive additives can also be present between the foils.

[0052] Examples of adhesive additives are: laminating adhesives orextrusion lamination media.

[0053] The peelable outer layer area of the first foil which may bepresent is, preferably, opaque.

[0054] The inner layer area of the first foil is, preferably,transparent and, if appropriate, more flexible than the outer layerarea.

[0055] The sequence, from outside to inside, of PET, Al or PP, Al hasproven advantageous for the outer layer area. The device comprises acontainer which has a first foil, for example, in the form of a coverfoil, and a second foil, for example, in the form of a thermoformedfoil, as is used in conventional blister packs.

[0056] Except for those areas forming the chambers, the foils arepreferably connected flat to one another, preferably such that they aresecurely sealed to one another, except for the passage area that is tobe selectively opened.

[0057] The first foil can be connected to the second foil, for example,by heat-sealing, cold-sealing, adhesive bonding or ultrasonic weldingwith sonotrodes.

[0058] The device can also be produced in a simple way depending on theembodiment. The areas which can be peeled open can be produced in oneoperation, in particular, by the action of the same energy application,even though these areas are situated on two different portions of thedevice.

[0059] A multilayer structure of the first foil and second foil can beobtained by laminating, calendering, coating of various single-foillayers, if appropriate also by vapor deposition, for example, withmetals.

[0060] To ensure that the substances introduced into the device and tobe applied are protected, for example, from incident light, the foilsare preferably configured in such a way that, in an area surrounding thechamber, they are connected to one another by two spaced-apart sealingseams.

[0061] The receptacle or receptacles can be produced by the same methodsas can be used to produce the device. The receptacle is, in this case,preferably produced by welding, adhesive bonding or sealing in the edgearea of plastic-containing or metal-containing foils so that acushion-shaped structure is preferably obtained. The foils are connectedin such a way that the receptacle can be opened under the action ofexternal pressure, the aim being that the receptacle should burst openin all directions under the effect of pressure.

[0062] The device can, in principle, be of any desired shape, but theshape is preferably adapted to the nature of the substances stored.

[0063] The chamber or chambers are preferably round (circular or oval),but, if appropriate, also angular (square, rectangular or triangular).

[0064] The chambers have volumes which are adapted to their purpose, sothat if used correctly and with a plurality of components to be mixedtogether, they permit homogeneous mixing. The chamber adjacent to thepouch preferably has a volume which is suitable for receiving the totalamount of substance which is to be mixed or has been mixed.

[0065] A chamber has, for example, a diameter of 5 to 20 mm, thedispensing instrument has a shaft diameter in the range of 2 to 4 mm.The substance volume which can be applied is usually in the range of afew tenths of a milliliter, preferably in the range of 0.03 to 0.5 ml.Depending on the embodiment, however, the substance volume which can beapplied can also be a few milliliters, in particular 5 to 10 ml.

[0066] The volume of the receptacle is usually in the range of 0.01 to 8ml, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 5 ml, particularly preferably inthe range of 0.01 to 1.0 ml.

[0067] The pouch is open to one side and can be designed in such a waythat it can also receive a dispensing instrument in the storage state.With a suitably small diameter of the pouch opening toward the outside,for example, in the form of a cannula, the pouch itself can also serveas an application device.

[0068] The separation between the chamber or chambers and the pouch isdesigned, in terms of distance and in terms of the strength of theadhesion, in such a way as to form a desired breaking point.

[0069] The passage area is configured in such a way that, in the storagestate, it forms a tight closure both with respect to the pouch and also,if appropriate, with respect to the second chamber.

[0070] Such a desired breaking point can be obtained, for example, bycold-sealing, heat-sealing, ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding. Inthe case of heat-sealing, a different energy application, preferably alower energy application, is provided compared to the other sealedareas. This can be controlled by temperature, pressure and/or holdingtime.

[0071] Another possibility is to arrange, between the first and thesecond foils in the area of the desired breaking point, foreignparticles which reduce the adhesion, for example peel foil punches orhot-melt adhesive spots. In this case, firmly sealing foils arepreferably used as upper foil and lower foil.

[0072] The application instrument which is optionally present ispreferably designed like a brush or a swab. An application instrumentwith a spherical tip bearing brush hairs or bristles has provenexpedient. Pipets, cotton rods, sponges or spatulas can also be used asapplication instrument.

[0073] When using an application instrument, it is also expedient if thepouch is sealed off from the outside by the application instrument.

[0074] The device is preferably used for storing and dispensingsubstances, in particular, small amounts thereof, such as are used, forexample, in the dental field. The device is particularly suitable forstoring aggressive and/or photosensitive substances.

[0075] To use the device, the optionally present outer layer area isfirst pulled off at least partially until it is possible to see thechambers containing the substances to be mixed, which substances canalso be present in separate receptacles.

[0076] Moreover, the two foils in the region of the passage area that isto be selectively opened are designed to be separated from one anotherso that a connection can be established between the chamber and thepouch.

[0077] It is likewise necessary to open the optional receptacle orreceptacles containing a substance.

[0078] This is preferably done by exerting external pressure on thechamber, for example, between the user's thumb and index finger. As aresult, the receptacle or receptacles containing the substance burstopen.

[0079] If the device has a first chamber and a second chamber which canbe connected to one another via a passage area that is to be selectivelyopened, it is possible, by alternately pressing on the outer layer ofthe chambers containing the substances, to effect an alternating to andfro movement of the substances to be mixed through the selective openingcreated, before the mixed substances are transferred into the pouchadjacent to the chamber.

[0080] By kinking the device in the area between the chambers, thepassage area or passage areas to be selectively opened can be closedagain. It is then virtually impossible for the mixed substances to flowback into the other chamber, so that the mixed substances can betransferred into the pouch by exerting pressure on the outer area of thefoils forming the chamber.

[0081] If the inner layer area of the first foil is transparent, it ispossible to visually monitor the mixing procedure and the emptying fromchamber to chamber or into the pouch.

[0082] A dispensing instrument which is present in the pouch, or whichis introduced into it only at this time or at a later time, is wettedand can then be used to apply the released substance.

[0083] It is also conceivable for the dispensing instrument to be movedin the direction toward the chamber in order to free the passage area tobe selectively opened and, if appropriate, to open the receptacle orreceptacles located in the chamber. In this way too, the dispensinginstrument is wetted.

[0084] If repeated application of the released substance is required,the dispensing instrument can be inserted back into the pouch.

[0085] The pouch or the dispensing instrument is preferably designed insuch a way that, when the dispensing instrument is inserted back intothe pouch, wetting of the outer area of the dispensing instrument doesnot take place.

[0086] This can be achieved, for example, by a channel-likeconfiguration of the pouch and by adapting the configuration of thedispensing instrument to the latter.

[0087] It is also conceivable to provide a dish-shaped or cup-shapedconfiguration of the pouch end of the thermoformed foil into which thesubstance is conveyed for repeated wetting of the application instrumentwithout wetting the shaft of the application instrument.

[0088] The present invention thus also relates to a method for using thedevice, which method comprises the following steps:

[0089] a) provision of a device as has been described above,

[0090] b) application of pressure to the first chamber of the firstportion, by which means the receptacle located in this chamber opens,

[0091] c) mixing the first substance, emerging from the receptacle instep b), with a second substance which is located either in the firstchamber outside the receptacle or in a second chamber which can beconnected to the first chamber via a passage area that can beselectively opened,

[0092] d) transferring the mixture from step c) into the pouch via thepassage area that can be selectively opened and wetting the applicationinstrument which can be present in this pouch,

[0093] e) at least partial removal of the first substance from thepouch, if appropriate, with the aid of the application instrument,

[0094] f) if appropriate, application of the first substance onto asurface, in particular tissue, particularly preferably hard dentaltissue,

[0095] g) if appropriate, opening the second chamber of the secondportion by pulling off a cover foil,

[0096] h) if appropriate, at least partial removal of the secondsubstance from the second chamber, and

[0097] i) if appropriate, application of the second substance onto thesite which was previously wetted with the first substance or came intocontact with the first substance.

[0098] Prior to activation of the device by opening one of the chambersor receptacles, the second portion is usually detached from the firstportion of the device in order to facilitate the application of thesubstances which are located in the individual chambers.

[0099] The substances to be applied can be free-flowing, if appropriate,kneadable, or can also be present in powder form. The substances arepreferably polymerizable.

[0100] Examples of polymerizable substances include photopolymerizableor radical-polymerizable substances such as acrylic acid, methacrylicacid, maleic acid, both in monomer and polymer form or prepolymerizedform, and derivatives thereof.

[0101] Free-flowing substances include all liquids and gels commonlyused in the dental field, such as caustic agents, primers and bondingagents and customary solvents.

[0102] The solvents can be chosen from among both dipolar proticsolvents and dipolar aprotic solvents. Examples which can be mentionedare: acetone, DMF, DMSO, alcohols, water.

[0103] All restorative and/or prosthetic substances common in the dentalfield, such as composites, compomers, ormocers, glass ionomer cements,silicate cements, phosphate cements, for example, in pastes or in powderform, can be introduced into the device.

[0104] The substances are located preferably in the receptacle orreceptacles, if appropriate, in the receptacle or receptacles and at thesame time in the chamber containing the receptacle or receptacles.

[0105]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the device.

[0106]FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the device with achamber which comprises a receptacle.

[0107]FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the device with achamber which comprises two receptacles.

[0108]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the device with two chambers.

[0109]FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the device with twochambers and one receptacle.

[0110]FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the device with three chambers whichare arranged on two portions.

[0111]FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section through the device with twochambers, where a foil has a peelable outer layer area.

[0112] The illustrative embodiments shown in the figures are given onlyas examples. The individual embodiments can be combined with one anotherat random.

[0113] Depending on the intended use, it can be advantageous if thedevice always has a further chamber for receiving a kneadable substance.

[0114] However, independently of the number of chambers and/orreceptacles in the chambers, it is also conceivable for the device toalways have an at least partially peelable outer-layer area.

[0115]FIG. 1 shows the device (1) according to the invention in planview, with a container which is formed by a first foil (2) and a secondfoil (3), a chamber (4), a passage area (6) that can be selectivelyopened, and a pouch (7) in which a dispensing instrument (8) is located.

[0116]FIG. 2 shows the device according to the invention in longitudinalsection, with a receptacle (9) which is provided in the chamber andwhich can contain a substance. In addition to the receptacle (9)containing a first substance, the chamber can also contain a furthersubstance which surrounds the receptacle.

[0117] In the device shown in longitudinal section in FIG. 3, thechamber (4) contains two receptacles (9, 10) which can containsubstances. In addition to the receptacles (9, 10) containing a firstsubstance and a second substance, the chamber can also contain afurther, third substance which surrounds the receptacles.

[0118]FIG. 4 shows the device as in FIG. 1 with two chambers (4, 5) inplan view, the chambers (4, 5) being connected to one another via apassage area (6) that can be selectively opened.

[0119] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the device has two chambers(4, 5), said chambers being connected to one another via a passage area(6) that can be selectively opened, and one of the chambers containing areceptacle (9).

[0120]FIG. 6 shows an embodiment with two chambers (4, 5) which arearranged on a first portion (A) and which are connected to one anothervia a passage area (6) that can be selectively opened, and with aseparate chamber (11) which is arranged on a portion (B), the chamber(11) not being connected to the other chambers via an area that can beopened. In the embodiment shown, the separate chamber (11) is designedso that it can be detached from the rest of the device via a perforation(12). The perforation (12) on the one hand permits, if appropriate, thecomplete detachment of the further chamber (11), while on the other handit is intended to ensure that, when the further chamber (11) is openedby pulling off the cover foil, the entire outer foil is not pulled off.The foils forming the chambers are connected to one another in differentways in the areas (13, 14). Whereas the foils in the first area (13) aresealed securely together (hatched lines from left to right), they aresealed to one another in such a way that they are peelable in the secondarea (14) (hatched lines from right to left).

[0121] In FIG. 7, an embodiment of the device is shown in longitudinalsection with two chambers (4, 5), where one of the foils forming thedevice comprises a peelable outer layer area (14).

1. A device comprising a first foil and a second foil which form atleast one first chamber for receiving a first substance, and a pouchwhich is separate from the chamber and is used to receive the firstsubstance, the separation between the pouch and the first chamber havinga passage area that can be selectively opened, and the first chambercontaining at least one receptacle which can be opened by applyingpressure to the foils forming the chamber.
 2. The device as claimed inclaim 1, said device having a second chamber for receiving a secondsubstance.
 3. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, inwhich the separation between the second chamber and the first chamberand/or the pouch has a passage area that can be selectively opened. 4.The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which one, twoor more receptacles are located in the first and/or second chamber. 5.The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which the pouchis designed to receive a dispensing instrument.
 6. The device as claimedin one of the preceding claims, in which a dispensing instrument isreceived in the pouch and has a section protruding from the latter. 7.The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which one ofthe foils has a peelable outer layer area and an inner layer area. 8.The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, said device havinga second portion which has a further chamber for receiving a furthersubstance.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, in which the separationbetween the further chamber and the other chambers has no passage areathat can be selectively opened.
 10. The device as claimed in either ofclaims 8 and 9, in which the further chamber can be opened by means of aseparately peelable foil and, if appropriate, can be closed again. 11.The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which at leastone receptacle and if appropriate the first chamber itself contain asubstance.
 12. Use of the device as claimed in one of the precedingclaims, for storing and dispensing at least one free-flowing substanceand, if appropriate, a kneadable substance.
 13. A method for dispensinga substance, which method comprises the following steps: a) provision ofa device as claimed in claim 11, b) application of pressure to the firstchamber of the first portion, by which means the receptacle located inthis chamber opens, c) mixing the first substance, emerging from thereceptacle, in accordance with step b), with a second substance which islocated either in the first chamber outside the receptacle or in asecond chamber which can be connected to the first chamber via a passagearea that can be selectively opened, d) transferring the mixture fromstep c) into the pouch via the passage area that can be selectivelyopened, d) at least partial removal of the first substance from thepouch.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 13, in which the first andsecond substances are components of an agent for treating the toothsurface.